LIFE & ARTS
Local organization celebrates 23 years of service with the help of man’s best friend A4
THE BIG EVENT
SPORTS How to fix A&M baseball’s season and get it back on track for the postseason B1
The Corps of Cadets’ Squadron 17 gave back to Bryan-College Station residents on Saturday
By Mollie Blake
Life & Arts Writer
On the morning of March 22, the Corps of Cadets’ Squadron 17, also known as the “Challengers,” participated in The Big Event, the largest one-day, student-run service project in the nation.
For the past 40 years, Aggie students have come together every spring to show their appreciation to the residents of Bryan-College Station by participating in community service projects that range from yard work to window washing and painting.
This year, Squadron 17’s cadets were assigned to Stacie Grange, a local property owner with a small farm who has hosted Big Event volunteers since 2010.
Grange described the day’s work as essential to maintaining her property, a hobby farm she uses to sell produce and homemade jams at the Brazos Valley Farmers’ Market.
“We’re doing a little bit of cement work, painting fences, moving dirt and organizing,” Grange said. “It’s a great way to tackle all those tasks that don’t get done throughout the year.”
Grange values the help from the student groups assigned to her property each year.
“I really appreciate it,” Grange said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s so rewarding. They get so much done that I couldn’t do by myself, and I get to show them around my farm afterward.”
Squadron 17, a U.S. Air Force ROTC outfit in the Corps, takes its name from the 1986 Challenger shuttle disaster, honoring the lives lost in the tragedy. Founded in 1992, the squadron’s mission is to develop leaders of character through service and leadership, with a strong emphasis on creating lifelong bonds
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among its members.
Agribusiness freshman cadet Henry Beckcom reflected on the importance of serving others.
“It’s humbling to know that we’re making a tangible difference in people’s lives, especially in a community that has supported us for so long,” Beckcom said. “Today, we’re not just doing tasks, we’re showing appreciation for everything the community does for us.”
For some cadets, service has been a long-standing commitment, but for others, it allows for a new and meaningful experience.
General engineering freshman cadet Ethan Schmidt noted that before joining the Corps of Cadets, he wasn’t involved in service. This year, Schmidt was just one of the cadets tasked with painting the small fence around Grange’s farm.
“Being in the Corps, service is a huge part of our identity,” Schmidt said. “Today, we’re here to help out and be a positive presence in the community. It’s not just about the work, we’re here to build relationships too. … It’s rewarding to just see the progress.”
Geographic information science and technology junior William Ladkani, Squadron 17’s service chair, said the outfit takes pride in participating in The Big Event.
“It’s a special opportunity to give back to the community that supports us,” Ladkani said. “We’re here not just to complete tasks, but to foster meaningful interactions with residents like Stacie.”
The annual service project promotes unity and service within the community, allowing students to unite for a shared purpose: Expressing gratitude to the residents who support Texas A&M year-round. It’s not about the number of tasks completed, but the connections and relationships built through shared service.
“The Big Event helps so many people in the community,” Grange said. “It creates such a positive connection between the students and the residents. I’m just so grateful to be a part of it, and I can’t wait to host again next year.”
Measles outbreak causes worry among experts
With 309 confirmed cases in Texas this year, Brazos County experts emphasize vaccination, detection during
By Jennifer Alatuogu-Okechukwu News Reporter
A surge of measles cases in Texas has raised alarms in Brazos County. Local health officials say it only takes one case for the virus to spread through the community.
As of March 21, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported 309 confirmed measles cases statewide since late January. Although no confirmed cases have emerged in Brazos County, health experts say the region should remain on alert, as the virus is highly transmissible and requires only brief contact to pass between individuals.
“It just takes one person who is infected, or rather, infectious, for the disease to spread,” professor and department head of epidemiology and biostatistics Patrick Tarwater, Ph.D, said. “Measles can easily move across state lines when people travel.”
Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases in the world. Caused by the measles virus, it spreads through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. The virus can remain active in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours, and individuals are often contagious before they show symptoms.
“Someone can be infected and contagious without knowing they have it,” Tarwater said. “This is what makes it dangerous. During the asymptomatic period, people feel fine and may be around fami-
ly, coworkers or children, unintentionally exposing others.”
According to Dr. Yao Akpalu, epidemiology manager at the Brazos County Health District, early signs of measles include high fever, potentially spiking above 104 degrees Fahrenheit, along with a cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. These symptoms are followed by the appearance of a generalized rash.
“Measles may be distinguished by the typical white spots, called Koplik’s spots, in the mouth and typical rashes described as flat red spots appearing on the face at the hairline and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet,” Akpalu said.
Because these symptoms can mimic those of other viral illnesses, public awareness is essential.
cation campaign. “The Brazos County Health District is vigorously advocating for measles vaccination through health education of the public,” Akpalu said. “This includes public service announcements on radios, TV interviews, social media and our webIn addition to educating the local community, the district coordinates with health care providers, agencies and institutions and holds meetings with stakeholders to ensure preparedness.
health district is ready to implement a containment strategy.
site.” coordinates
“The health district has specific guidelines, plans and strategies regarding the detection of a confirmed measles case,” Akpalu said. “These include isolation and treatment of the confirmed case, informing the public with directives on what to do, contact tracing and testing of all individuals exposed to the confirmed case and quarantine and prophylaxis as appropriate.”
Health officials urge residents to contact a health care provider if they suspect exposure or begin to show symptoms.
Prevention remains the most reliable form of protection. The current measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rate in Brazos County is 96.5%, according to Akpalu. This figure exceeds the 95% threshold required for herd immunity, which occurs when enough people are immunized to stop widespread transmission.
Unvaccinated individuals remain the most vulnerable to infection, but Akpalu emphasized that certain groups face heightened risks of complications if exposed.
“Other groups of individuals who are at greater risk of getting measles include children, the elderly, pregnant
“Unvaccinated individuals constitute a great risk for the community since they are the most vulnerable to measles infection,” Akpalu said. women and the immunocompromised.”
To protect the public, Akpalu said the district is actively monitoring for suspected cases by facilitating diagnostic testing and is promoting vaccination through a public edu-
He added that the district will also coordinate with the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to manage the outbreak efficiently.
Tarwater said public health professionals already have the tools needed to prevent measles outbreaks.
“We have learned the policies and methods,” Tarwater said. “What has changed is how well we are implementing them.”
He added that, in his professional experience, there is no accepted or reproducible research suggesting that skipping routine vaccinations is advisable.
meetings focus on measles outbreak preparedness, contingency plans for communi- cation, testing, contact tracing, vaccination and prophylaxis,” Akpalu said. If a confirmed case of measles is identified in Brazos County, the
“These including no advisable.
“To the best of my knowledge, there is no reason not to get a necessary vaccine unless you are knowingly allergic, which is very rare,” Tarwater said. With the number of measles cases continuing to climb across the state, both experts encourage residents to remain vigilant. Knowing the signs and symptoms, keeping vaccinations current and practicing preventive health measures can help prevent the virus from reaching Brazos County.
Clockwise from top: Host Stacie Grange ’01 explains the task to geographic information science and technology sophomore
William Ladkani during The Big Event on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Squadron 17 cadets paint a fence laid on a tarp during The Big Event on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Cadets of Squadron 17 spread mulch around
Photos by Samuel Falade THE BATTALION
Embroidering, one thread at a time
Aggie-owned company
Double Vision brings a maroon and white flair to the national stage
By Valeria Kolster Life & Arts Writer
Game-day out ts and accessories are very important to college students, especially when football season rolls around. Ashley Morehead ‘16 and her ance, John Kaser, co-owners of their embroidery and graphic design company, Double Vision, are well aware that having the perfect Aggie towel or bandana makes every out t even better than it was before.
Double Vision is an event-based business, meaning they are hired by brands, corporations and businesses to attend their events, where where they embroider personal-
ized items. In addition to events, Double Vision also sells and ships items, which can be found and purchased on their website, doublevision.xyz.
A few of the items Double Vision sells include bandanas, Aggie towels, pennants and embroidered hearts.
Morehead and Kaser have traveled around Texas to work events near Austin, Dallas and Houston. In these areas, they have worked with companies like Stanley, J. Crew and Kendra Scott for events.
“The business is me and myance and we both have glasses, so that’s the double vision kind of thing,” Morehead said. “He does graphic design and then I do the embroidery, so it’s two di erent visions. But mostly the glasses.”
Morehead and Kaser bought their embroidery machine in June 2022 after seeing a few people embroider online. They began selling their products a year and a
half ago.
“I guess I’ve always been artsy, craftsy,” Morehead said. “I can sew, I can draw a little bit. We saw this chain stitch embroidery online like, ‘Oh, that’s pretty cool, let’s do that,’ and I fell in love with it.”
Even though Double Vision is a company based in Bryan-College Station, its products are shipped across the United States, all the way to New York and California.
“I did customized handkerchiefs for a bride in New York,” Morehead said. “They were going to be the place cards for her table setting for all of her guests. She had to do 75 or 80 of them and then I shipped them to her, so that was really cool.”
Embroidering takes plenty of patience and years of skill. Morehead has been embroidering for three years, but she is still constantly challenged throughout the complex task of completing different projects.
“Messing up, getting nervous, maybe feeling like I’m not good enough,” Morehead said. “So there are a lot of chain stitch embroidery artists across America and we’re all on the internet hyping each other up and liking things.
But I’ll look at someone’s things and …. It’s a lot of comparing.”
With hundreds of thousands of Aggies and Longhorns gathered in and around Kyle Field for last year’s Lone Star Showdown football game, Morehead and Kaser jumped on the opportunity to sell their embroidered products.
“[Lucchese Bootmaker] was selling bandanas and they hired us to personalize them for everyone who bought a bandana,” Morehead said. “They had orange and they had maroon bandanas. So, UT fans could buy the orange one. If they wanted ‘Hook ‘em’ on it, if they wanted their name, if they wanted their dog’s name, I’d put that on the bandana.”
Authenticity in the age of artifical
Instructors look to tackle ethical use of language models in the classroom, workplace amid debate
By Lillian Haynes Life & Arts Writer
Recognizing the ongoing global integration of generative articial intelligence in our communities, Texas A&M professors Kegan Clark and Matthew Bizzell, ph.D., designed the course UGST 311: Authenticity in the Age of Generative AI to discuss the intersection between arti cial intelligence and personal authenticity.
Tailored toward students interested in the use of generative AI as an assistive technology, the course discusses the diverse uses of AI across disciplines.
“UGST 311 isn’t just about AI,” Clark said. “It’s about understanding ourselves in a world where AI is increasingly shaping how we communicate, create and think.”
With a background in cognitive psychology and decision-making, Clark focuses on presenting an interdisciplinary approach to AI.
“Generative AI has just as much to do with language and psychology as it does coding and math,” Clark said. “And even more to do with philosophy and policy.”
Bringing an alternative perspective to the table, Bizzell’s background in teaching English at a collegiate level fosters critical engagement with the ethical implications of AI.
“I think people need to be prepared to know more about it,” Bizzell said. “To engage with it and see how it can be improved or reduced.”
While highlighting the positives of AI, Bizzell said it has nowhere near the creative capacities of humans, as it fails to imagine and create new ideas.
“I think [AI] could be useful for really time-sensitive things,” Bizzell said. “Solo writers, writing emails … but not necessarily [things] that people care about what they look like.”
Bizzell also mentioned that by
Morehead explained that her favorite product to design is bandanas. because they’re versatile, can be worn in multiple styles and come in a variety of colors and designs.
“I love a bandana, it’s just fun,” Morehead said. “With chain stitch embroidery, you can do artwork. You can draw, essentially, with the machine. But you do a lot of scriptwork like lettering and names, and that’s what I really love to do.” Little things, like receiving an embroidered product, can change someone’s day.
A personalized gift can be more meaningful.
“At an event the other day … some lady asked me, ‘What does it feel like to bring joy into people’s lives?’” Morehead said. “It feels great.”
Morehead and Kaser can be found through their Instagram and website, doublevision.xyz.
intelligence
The reason you’re using the AI is just as important as how you use it. Kegan Clark A&M Professor “
providing the lower functions of these jobs, the developmental process toward attaining higher job functions is lost. These ethical dilemmas are openly questioned in the course, furthering insight into the role of arti cial intelligence in everyday life.
“There is de nitely a ne line between using it to help us and then letting it consume us,” molecular and cell biology sophomore Molly Gray said. “There’s a very, very ne line. And no one really knows what that ne line is because … AI is so new. Like how can you really know what it is? But I do think there’s a line there.”
As a student interested in pursuing a career in teaching or scienti c research, Gray enrolled in UGST 311 to better understand the stigmatization of AI and how perpetuated stereotypes have created integration barriers in education and research.
“I think it’s just important … to know how to talk to people,” Gray said. “There’s just so much stigma around proper use of AI. And I really wanted to discuss that with people who were also interested in discussing that.” Similarly, psychology freshman Lydia Kang said her desire to enroll in UGST 311 came from the
likelihood of an AI-dependent future, as she wants to take initiative towards opening conversations about AI to ensure its successful integration into communities.
“If used properly and justi ably, AI can become one of the greatest assets we have in shaping a greater future,” Kang said.
Also focused on the integration of AI, honors management information systems freshman Benjamin McCaulley said arti cial intelligence is expected to completely evolve his future workplace, including jarring e ects on the cybersecurity job market.
“AI will be the next game
changer,” McCaulley said. “Some jobs will become obsolete, unknown jobs will be created to solve problems faced with the use of AI.”
Discussions in the class demonstrated how the integration of AI is necessary, but not without safeguards. Amongst these restrictions is the need for better protection of copyright laws, as arti cial intelligence has been known to take information without authorization to improve its pattern recognition skills.
“That’s the whole other concern … that these AI models are trained o of other people’s material that they don’t have the license for,” Bizzell said. “It is freely open on the internet, but at the same time, you can’t just copy anything.”
Clark added that the blueprint on what it means to be “ethical” when using AI is still undetermined.
“The jury is still out on what it means to use AI ethically,” Clark said. “The in-class discussions and follow-up questions always leave my brain processing until the next session … [where] I know we’ll dig up some challenging questions.” Regardless, arti cial intelligence is here to stay, whether it be replacing part of human jobs or in uencing how humans interact with the market.
“In my time working with … generative AI, my biggest takeaway is that the purpose for using AI is very important,” Clark said. “AI can be a great time-saver for small tasks but can also pose a large liability if misused.The reason you’re using the AI is just as important as how you use it.”
His students said the bene ts of AI greatly outweigh the negatives. Kang mentioned that as it becomes fully integrated into our communities, classes like UGST 311 are vital.
“AI can be understood metaphorically as a lump of clay,” Kang said. “Depending on how we decide to understand, feel and shape the ways in which we employ AI, we may either come out with
or we may end up uselessly dirtying our hands.”
An embroidered bag with the word “Howdy” by Double Vision Embroidery sits on a table.
Photo courtesy of Ashley Morehead
Students go wild for on-campus petting zoo
The petting zoo boasted exotic animals, served as a stress-relief break from studying for over 300 Texas A&M students
By Valeria Kolster Life & Arts Writer
On March 25, the Residential Housing Association, or RHA, hosted a petting zoo at Simpson Drill Field. With animals ranging
from goats, kangaroos, bearded dragons and a corgi, over 300 people visited that day.
The event’s coordinator, biochemistry sophomore Eric Nguyen, said the idea spawned after the group hosted a “wellness week” last semester focused on de-stressing and self-wellness.
“For the spring semester, we wanted to replicate it but take more e ective action,” Nguyen said. “So this semester, we decided to do a petting zoo, among other activities.”
But coordinating an entire petting zoo isn’t easy. The
RHA reached out to several organizations about bringing animals into College Station, with a particular focus on variety.
“This idea emerged from what was unique, what was special, what we haven’t seen in Aggieland before, and that’s a petting zoo,” Nguyen said.
Of all options, kangaroos were the favorite among the students and received constant attention.
“Probably getting to see a kangaroo in real life [was the highlight of the event] because I’ve never seen a kangaroo before,” agricultural leadership and
development sophomore Avery Deli said. “… They’re so cute.”
Animals are known for their ability to relieve stress and can help students feel less anxious during busy weeks.
Originally supposed to take place during midterms, the event was pushed back due to weather conditions that the students didn’t expect.
“It was a good way to not think about any work,” general engineering freshman Deepna Kanjee said. “You don’t have to put any worry when going in.You kind of just leave everything else
behind.”
A big part of ensuring success for events such as these is spreading the word. Without the proper exposure, they can fall short of their goals.
“I’m marketing, so I love sharing what we do,” biomedical sciences junior Elizabeth Tobaben said. “My favorite thing is just sharing all of the fantastic things that we’re advocating for students to do. … We already are just killing it, so I can’t wait to see what we do next year.”
The zoo was a one-day event that lasted from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
A&M initiative to bolster civic responsibility
Citizenship and Service Initiative leaders o er insight into curriculum changes
By David Swope News Reporter
Texas A&M administrators are continuing their rollout of the Citizenship and Service Initiative, a new approach that aims to instill civic values and responsibilities into A&M students.
The initiative, led by President Mark A. Welsh III and Director of Strategic Initiatives Brigadier General (Ret.) Kim Field, focuses on bolstering Aggie Core Values and civic engagement within students, navigating di erences in public policy and media and teaching constitution-based civics.
Welsh rst outlined such an initiative in his State of the University Address in November 2023.
Field joined the O ce of the President last year as the director of the initiative.
Although much of the plan remains conceptual and has yet to see widespread implementation,
the O ce of the President’s goals are clear: increase student re ection, incentivize engagement with the program and close gaps in civic education.
“I know that I have alumni, but most importantly student body, sta and faculty right here on my watch, who are fantastic Aggies,” Field said. “We want to make sure that we are also presenting these Aggies to the whole country in spirit of the national reputation that A&M should have because of its values, its traditions and the excellence of the scholarship that is done here.”
The minds behind the Citizenship and Service Initiative emphasize its rst framework pillar: instilling Aggie Core Values.
As the number of students and the population of Bryan-College Station has surged over the past 10 years, administrators and student leaders are focused on keeping the university true to its traditions.
“One of the phrases that we’ve been falling back on is ‘enrich the whole trajectory,’” student coordinator for strategic initiatives and biomedical sciences senior Maddox Lindor said. “We already believe that there’s a lot of good things at A&M taking place. We have those traditions, Core
Values and leadership and service opportunities that A&M students have been taking part in for decades, but it’s at a point where, as the school is growing large, it’s hard to get all of those students engaged.”
Structural changes to existing Hullabaloo U courses, rst-year experience courses aimed to acclimate freshman students to A&M, and POLS 206 and 207 have been suggested to include more widespread discussions on civic responsibilities.
The O ce of the President plans to collaborate with the Bush School of Government to create guidelines on how A&M’s colleges can incorporate these ideas with existing curriculum.
Coordinators and directors highlight the importance of student involvement, input and participation as the initiative comes to fruition.
“We can’t do this without their input,” student coordinator for strategic initiatives and society, ethics and law junior Kathleen Parks, A&M’s student body vice president-elect, said.“It’s not going to work if the administration just hands down another requirement for students … so we’ve kept student feedback at the heart of the discussion.”
Field and her team also plan to examine the possibility of implementing service-learning, an approach in which students apply classroom learning to address the needs of their local communities, often through community service. Other ideas include the revival of Aggie Agora, a program that brought lecturers and students together to discuss di cult ideas and topics before it ran out of funding.
“We want students to understand they aren’t just coming here to become a doctor, to become a lawyer, to become an engineer,” Field said. “They’re going to do all that, yes, that’s what they’re paying for, but in the context of solving the problems of the community, the state and the nation as a good citizen.”
File photo by Ishika Samant — THE BATTALION
Clockwise from top left: Meteorology junior Evan Lopez and engineering sophomore Victoria Trudgeon pet a sheep during
the Texas A&M Residential Housing Association Petting Zoo at Simpson Drill Field on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Statistics
junior Vainavi Chilukuri pets a kangaroo during the Texas A&M Residential Housing Association Petting Zoo at Simpson
Drill Field on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. General engineering freshman Poojita Balusu pets a goat during the Texas A&M
Housing Association Petting Zoo at Simpson Drill Field on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
Photos by Ashely Bautista THE BATTALION
OPINION
Opinion: Don't be scared, be a hater
Uncritical consumption: The death of negativity and reflective thought
By Isabella Garcia Associate Opinion Editor
Ever since there’s been art, there have been critics. And ever since there have been critics, there have been artists hating on said critics.
But in our culture of distraction and escapism, true criticism has begun to disappear. In its place, attitudes of anti-intellectualism perpetuate mindless consumption and cause general disdain for any sort of re ective thought.
Ironically, one of the most popular forms of content is reviews, which are supposed to be the hallmark of criticism. Whether it’s books on Goodreads, movies on Letterboxd or commentary on YouTube, social media has paved the way for anyone to become a reviewer. So whenever a certain lm, song, book or hot topic begins to gain traction, swarms of in uencers ock to capitalize on this attention — crowding out serious critics in the process.
Think about the sheer amount of information available online: Just to stay updated — to stay relevant — we need to maximize our media consumption. There’s so much content that you’re only able to skim over the basic premise before you scroll on to something else. You’re forced to sort things into a binary just to quickly make sense of everything; all actions are good or bad, all opinions are right or wrong.
Social media platforms’ instantaneous and overwhelming structure completely discourages nuance. Worse, these platforms aren’t friendly to responses or discourse. You can only talk to one person at a time in real life, so what are you supposed to do when hundreds of people stitch 10 seconds of your commentary and thousands more blow up your comment section?
We no longer feel responsible for educating ourselves further from the shallow overview of a 30-second Reel or TikTok. We’ve been conditioned into stagnation, to feel contempt for those who choose to dig further.
But this is only scratching the surface, as the rise of antiintellectualism can be seen everywhere online.
BookTok, a subcommunity of TikTok known for making the label of being a reader more
important than actually reading, has also led to the trope-i cation of literature: Books are reduced to cliche tropes for easily consumable entertainment rather than critical thought.This soulless genre ction is just popcorn media — easily consumed, easily forgotten.
The phenomenon of “girlsplaining,” which arose in direct opposition to mansplaining, consists of a girl explaining di cult concepts to other girls through frivolous images and oversimpli ed metaphors because our small woman brains can't handle it. Need a TLDR on BRICS vs. the U.S. dollar? No problem! It’s literally the plot of “Mean Girls.”
Likewise, “girl math,” “I’m just a girl” and the whole bimbo feminism trend — aside from being extremely reductive and reinforcing harmful stereotypes — are all silly little ways of explaining away criticism or ignoring valid issues: same rhetoric, di erent performance.
But you can’t “I’m just a girl” your way out of everything; you pay taxes, you vote. You’re not empowering women or healing your inner child — you’re
regressing into ignorance.
Above all, there’s been an explosion in language that directly serves to dismiss all forms of criticism.
“Maybe the curtains are just blue.”
Everyone’s been in that English class. Exhausted from going through symbolism over and over again, you pray for an escape from a teacher endlessly trying to derive meaning from meaningless things. While this phrase was meant to criticize overanalysis, the overgeneralization that all analysis is tedious contributes to a broader dismissive attitude toward critique.
“Just let people enjoy things.”
A direct response to opposing views, it really means you don’t want to think about what you’re taking in. You know that what you’re consuming is bad and has points worthy of criticism, but you’re choosing to ignore it. And if we’re supposed to adopt this optimistic, feel-good attitude toward all media, if we’re only allowed to be blissfully joyous about culture, then none of it actually counts.
We need to pay attention to the negative to recognize the positive.
Why should an opposing opinion make you feel bad? This active dismissal is only a re ection of one’s own insecurity.
“It’s not that deep.”
If we fail to voice our criticisms, whose ideas will be left?
Those belonging to spiteful rage-baiters looking to fuel the algorithm? What about those of seemingly harmless, mindnumbing in uencers?
Or perhaps those of powerful elites, aiming to control what everyone is conditioned to think about so they can pro t o of our need to endlessly indulge?
Oh, don’t pay attention to how everything you consume is only slightly di erent and equally empty.
Just keep letting the monopolistic media conglomerates cater to our simplest desires and most super cial political awareness.
If we fail to be critical, we justify the authority of harmful, manipulative opinions. If we let these ideas run rampant without opposition, they will e ectively control what everyone is equipped to think about. Do we really want public opinion to be a manufactured product of complacency?
Intellectualism isn’t elitism, thinking “Pride and Prejudice” is superior to “It Ends With Us.” It’s bringing a discerning attitude to any piece of media, regardless of whether it’s classic literature or brainrot.
It isn’t what you consume but how you consume it.
Thinking critically can be as simple as re ecting on what a work is trying to say.
Just like you don’t need 60 assorted highlighters and fancy book tabs to critically analyze a book, neither do you need a microphone and fancy LED ring light to break down the latest Bong Joon Ho lm: All you need is your mind.
It’s not enough to just consume information, we have to judge and evaluate it within the existing contexts of our worldviews. Understanding takes e ort, and that’s okay. Critique is the greatest form of adoration; never shy away from exploring all the intricacies of a work. So, yeah. Be a hater — and don’t let nuance die.
Isabella Garcia is an economics junior and associate opinion editor for The Battalion.
Review: Bong Joon Ho's 'Mickey 17'
The new sci-fi dystopia is a suspensful but comforting masterpiece
By Joshua Abraham Opinion Writer
Rating: 10/10
The king is back.
Five years after Bong Joon Ho’s lm “Parasite” became the rst non-English-language lm to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards and set a precedent for the future of the lm industry, he’s landed back bigger than ever with his new lm “Mickey 17.”
Based on the novel by Edward Ashton, Warner Brothers decided to go all in with Bong, throwing $118 million at him to make whatever he wanted.
That was the greatest decision they could have made.
“Mickey 17” revolves around a down-and-out Mickey Barnes — Robert Pattinson — who decides to become an “expendable” for an expedition to a planet named Ni heim.
But this job Barnes has signed up for isn’t for the weak. An “expendable” is sent on missions with the sole purpose of dying in the name of research, later being printed out and replacing the previous copy of the individual.
This comes with great responsibility but a total lack of freedom. All of his decisions are made by Kenneth Marshall — Mark Ru alo — the cult leader of this expedition, to nd a new habitable planet for humankind. Mickey is printed out 17 times
over the course of four years to aid research and development, each copy a little di erent than the last, but it’s nonetheless Mickey. When Mickey 17, the Mickey iteration we follow through the lm, gets lost during a mission, he nds his way back to base only to nd another copy of himself assuming his position, Mickey 18. In a world where multiples are not only frowned upon but punishable by death, both Mickeys have to examine what should be done and if both of them can live simultaneously. The greatness that Bong possesses is his ability to balance all genres at once. This movie is thrilling, suspenseful, hilarious,
romantic and comforting all at the same time. I can only count on one hand the number of active directors that have achieved this, and none have mastered it like Bong.
This is in part thanks to the cast that’s been assembled. Pattinson is incredible in portraying all the Mickeys. Having to make distinct versions of the same character is challenging, but Pattinson does it easily. The viewer knows which Mickey is which even though they’re standing next to each other, and this really makes the lm work.
The supporting cast is also fantastic. Ru alo plays a prominent world leader who has to come to
terms with his failure superbly — remind you of anyone? Rounded out by Naomi Ackie as Mickey’s lover, Steven Yeun and Toni Collette, watching this lm is just so much fun because everyone is performing to their highest ability.
The lm’s score also deserves a shout-out. Jung Jae-il, who composed “Parasite,” “Okja” and “Squid Games,” has such a recognizable tone in his composition that works e ectively across these productions.
The quiet parts are soft and contemplative, but the extravagant sequences are loud and chaotic, working in tandem with the themes that Bong wants to emphasize.
But most of all, the greatest feature of this lm is its commentary on society.
You don’t go into a Russo Brothers lm expecting a narrative on the proletariat and bourgeoisie — if you do, you’ll be very disappointed.
On the other hand, every lm Bong has made is viewed through the lens of class con ict, and his ability to critique capitalism within the framework of a scimovie is powerful.
Marshall is clearly an allegory for President Donald Trump — red hats and distinctive dance moves symbolizing the cult-like following that has earned Trump another term in the White House.
Mickey is a representation of the working class and the replaceable, completely disposable nature of workers in the eyes of corporations.
These metaphors, combined with all of Bong’s narrative tools, build a structured attack against this system he’s critiquing. We feel for Mickey, someone who would be considered very low and unimportant in our society, by the end of the movie.
Bong has never failed to recreate this theme across all of his movies, and it shows why he’s one of our greatest living directors.
Don’t walk, run to the biggest screen you can nd and give this lm a watch. We should be thankful to be alive during the same time as Bong. Don’t take it for granted.
Joshua Abraham is a kinesiology junior and opinion writer for The Battalion.
Aggieland Pets With A Purpose celebrates 23 years of Selfless Service
By Kynlee Bright
LIFE & ARTS
Spreading pawsitivity through puppy love
“I enjoy volunteering, I get a lot from it, but Stella gets even more,” Miller said. “I see my dog smile and it just warms your heart. We get students crying and Stella calms them down. You can just see in real time how it really helps
As the organization celebrates 23 years of service, Miller says it’s important to remember what the organization was built for.
“Nobody’s patting me on the back for doing this,” Miller said. “I’m doing this because I want to, because Stella wants to. We’re trying to make more good in the world. We’re changing lives here.”
In addition to their Tuesday campus adventures, every semester members bring their pets to Texas A&M libraries to relieve stress in
and members alike have one common goal.
“Almost as long as I’ve been at the libraries, and I’ve been here over 16 years, I feel like I remember seeing the animals come during nals,” Learning and Student Engagement Librarian
The was
in the community,” Darling said.
“Our goal is to share animals’ unconditional love with people and over again.”
“The short version: brightening people’s day, and I see that over
The group was based as a spino from an advanced obedience class which led to their founding, Darling said.
“There were a couple of people in the class who had done therapy work and dog work in Dallas,” Darling said. “So they were all interested in starting a group here and several of us were interested, so that kind of formed the core group.”
Chance Medlin said. “I think there is magic in that kind of connection with a living being. It’s
In its early years, the organization had to reach out to companies and organizations for event opportunities, but this has since changed.
The pets in the organization help to bring joy, not only to students, but to local community members. Miller said that when one goes without their pet, seeing
their can their
campus adventures, every semester tough academic periods. “So opportunities,
month, almost all are made through outside organizations contacting APWAP. throughout the year, including their special recurring events, one of which is “Tiny Dog Tuesday”. Every Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m., APWAP Treasurer Jacob Miller can be found in Rudder Plaza while his pup Stella o ers endless cuddles to passersby.
smile. I like seeing people interact
While positive bene ts are reaped by many, APWAP’s count smile on someone’s face.”
members count themselves lucky
“I feel like I’ve received so many blessings doing this,” Darling said. “ … And the blessing is seeing that
Local gym offers new, affordable classes
Stone Co. Climbing Gym provides cheap yoga activities for Texas A&M students
By Kennedy Long Life & Arts Writer
At the end of January, Stone Co. Climbing introduced a new a ordable yoga membership, a $55 per month option that provides members unlimited access to 16 classes o ered weekly and special one-time classes like sunrise and sunset yoga.
Beyond the new membership, Stone Co. also invites guests to try out any of its regular yoga classes at a price of $16 per person.
when I want time to center myself and calm down after a stressful day,” Moore said.
Moore utilizes her yoga and teaching skills in unison during her classes, making the routines simple to follow and easy to modify based on the skillsets of each individual attendee.
“Towards the end of class, [Moore] turned o the lights and encouraged us to nd comfort in any pose we wanted, so I chose a simple child’s pose while the woman across from me was in a full headstand,” rst-time yoga class attendee Makaylah Gracia
yoga, I was surprised with how simple it was while also being a good form of exercise,” Gracia said.
“And I loved the music she played during class.” Moore uses a playlist featuring indie music like “Sierra Vista” by Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners, which visitors like Gracia appreciate.
“It set a more welcoming and demographic- tting vibe,” Gracia said. “Of course, there were di erent generations in the room, but the indie music was more appealing to my friends and I.”
It’s my favorite way to decompress as a busy student when I want time to center myself and calm down after a stressful day.
Bekah Moore
Stone Co. Yoga Instructor
At one Saturday morning Vinyasa Flow class, guests and members alike will be warmly welcomed by psychology senior Bekah Moore, who joined as a yoga instructor in 2021. During her time at Stone Co., Moore has had the opportunity to open new and unique yoga classes, including Climber’s Flow and High Intensity Interval Training + Flow classes, she said.
“I love being an instructor here,” Moore said. “It’s a great environment, and the community is super welcoming.”
As a student, Moore understands the importance of balancing work and personal care and believes in the practice of yoga wholeheartedly, she said.
“It’s my favorite way to decompress as a busy student
‘24 said. Moore is careful to give each attendee time to connect with their bodies and feel the bene ts of each movement, even explaining where and how to feel a deeper stretch as she demonstrates.
“[Stone Co.] has challenged me as a teacher because I was used to being at a studio where people know exactly what you’re talking about,” Moore said. “Coming to a climbing gym, yoga’s on the back burner for people here.”
Gracia commended Moore for her ability to adapt her expertise in a 15-person class. The hourlong yoga class quickly makes itself worthy of the $16 for how enjoyable and accessible it is, Gracia explained.
“As someone who never does
With classes made accessible by the new a ordable membership, guest pricing and yoga instructors who understand the student perspective, Stone Co.’s mission is to simplify self-care.
“It would be my absolute dream come true for more students to realize the value of that many yoga classes being o ered at their local climbing gym for such a good price,” Moore said. “I have seen a wide variety of prices in my three and a half years of teaching, but have never come across prices as low as Stone Co.’s.”
If guests are interested in becoming members, they can choose from Stone Co.’s several options — including monthly or annual memberships — and a special discounted membership for students.
A full breakdown of membership packages can be found on the Stone Co. Climbing website.
“I think students would bene t from increased productivity and focus by giving the yoga classes a try,” Moore said.
Clockwise from top: Students pet therapy dog Tempe at Texas A&M’s campus. Therapy dog Tempe poses for a picture. Students pet therapy dog Tempe near Evans Library. A cadet smiles at an Aggieland Pets With A Purpose therapy dog during the “Everybody needs a cookie” event.
Photos courtesy of Kit Darling
By Noah Ruiz Sports Writer
After dropping two consecutive Southeastern Conference series and falling out of the Top 25 rankings,Texas A&M baseball faces issues on all fronts. From cold bats to blown leads, something needs to be done — fast. But what steps can be taken to get back on the quest for glory?
Here are a few ways coach Michael Earley and Co. can gather momentum and steer their ship into calmer waters before the many problems they face get too out of hand.
Keep the hot hands dealing
Pitching, namely from the bullpen, has hindered the Maroon and White’s ability to close out games in the late innings. Already this season, three losses have come at the hands of a ninth-inning comeback for the opposing team, exposing the hole left behind from former NCBWA Stopper of the Year Evan Aschenbeck. Relief is hard to come by, and the trio of lefty starters can only contain an o ense for so long. Seven innings is about the max
a starting pitcher can last in such a dominant conference, but when your relief is the torching arm of redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Luke Jackson, who’s closing the door on batters, it may be wise you keep him in while he is in his groove, lest you see your tied score diminish in the nal frame.
Young arms and savvy veterans will prove themselves on the mound as the season goes on, but in a game of momentum, stick to your working guns.Your 97-mileper-hour guns.
Standardize the batting order
Unlike the 2024 season, the Aggie o ense has only shown o its true potential a handful of times in this year’s campaign.
Strong displays against the likes of Rice, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and others make it apparent what A&M is capable of, but in some contests, this re simply disappears.
What helped last year’s success was the consistency in the batting order, which allowed for a planned attack in each game.
Keeping the strength of the order at the top and spacing out clean-up hitters can provide a remedy for an ailing o ense and ensure that runners are not continuously left on base.
Perhaps with the return of the injured sophomore out elder Caden Sorrell, the mix-and-match of batting can become more
concrete and a spark can generate from an anticipated strike. Making sure the four-hole hitter isn’t pitched around to strand the power of the rst three batters is crucial to get the Aggies back on track. Distribute the wealth.
Maintain the swagger
Baseball, above all sports, is about swagger and groove. Whether it be Pringles, luggage carts or Rattlin’ Bog, the best teams embody a persona drafted by the players. With an identity forged by the team’s chemistry and brotherhood, they can carry themselves to new heights.
After a few weeks without a team signature, today, it is the shaved heads. When fans see a blistering double deep into the park or an all-too-necessary RBI, it’s not uncommon to see the Aggie batter remove his helmet and display his lack of hair to his buddies in the dugout for a reward of cheers and claps — compliments of the team’s 12th Man, graduate designated hitter Hayden Schott.
This kind of thing is something that bonds a team, reminding them of their camaraderie and who they are at bat for.
It gets the team its mojo back after a brief lull, gets the crowd ignited and gets fans feeling like part of the team.
If the Aggies want their fans back on the warpath, the men
need to give them something to cheer about and unite the 12th Man.
Develop and address technique
Strikeouts kill o ense, plain and simple. A&M batters are no exception to this fact, having their fair share of runners stranded on base thanks to the ball not being put into play. Baseball is undoubtedly di cult, but sometimes all it takes is a slight adjustment to get the cogs turning in the RBI machine.
Look no further than the improvement that sophomore catcher Bear Harrison has made as a starter in the recent stretch of games since the victory over Corpus Christi.
Harrison, having had just one hit all season, made a change in his swing starting March 18, a tear of three home runs and six RBIs in the four games since the adjustment.
Tuesday’s 7-2 win against Houston Christian may not have had the reworks of a run-rule, but it gave a snapshot into quality at-bats and working out kinks in real time. Perhaps it’s time some more struggling Aggie hitters take a page out of Harrison’s book and adapt their swing and technique to get their bats hot once again. Junior OF Jamal George has opted to bat right amid his own troubles,
and even pitching has seen an adjustment out of necessity.
Junior RHP Grant Cunningham has tweaked his pitching to become a steady arm in relief as a starter
Believe in the process
Things can look pretty bleak whenever a team starts as the unanimous No. 1 and then falls below .500, but there is no doubt that the talent and ability are there for the Fightin’ Farmers. A new head coach and sta , skyhigh expectations and a daunting schedule create a storm that is not easily warded o .
The fact of the matter is that Ole Miss’ 2022 national championship team lost four-straight SEC series before rebounding its charge into Omaha, 2014 Vanderbilt rode ups and downs in its dance to the big stage and 2015 Virginia fell from the rankings in its path to an unlikely national title and exacted its revenge after being runner-ups the previous season.
It will take a lot of buy-in from the players and coaches alike, but with some improvement and belief A&M baseball can see its season steady its way to an NCAA tournament berth and continue to search for redemption in
There’s
e world’s strangest job interview
Thirteen Aggies to participate in athletic testing for NFL Pro Day
By Mathias Cubillan Associate Sports Editor
The tape measures and stopwatches are out — and the world’s strangest job interview is entering its nal stages.
As the 2025 NFL Draft creeps ever closer, 13 Aggies will take one nal opportunity to impress scouts, coaches and personnel executives at Texas A&M football’s NFL Pro Day on Thursday, March 27 at the Coolidge Performance Center.
“[The Pro Day] is an opportunity for a lot of our guys to come back and really put on a show [on Thursday],” coach Mike Elko said. “I’m excited to watch those guys. That’s a day they’ve waited for and looked forward to for a long time, so it’s been good
After riding high in the SEC, the Aggies face LMU at Davis Diamond
By Roman Arteaga Senior Sports Writer
Riding high after consecutive wins against Sam Houston and then-No. 24 Alabama, No. 6 Texas
A&M softball will stay at home this weekend as it hosts Loyola Marymount University for a nonconference series.
In their last weekend game, A&M survived a sixth-inning surge by Alabama to secure its sixth conference win of the season. In this game, 2025 USA Softball Top 53 Player of the Year Watch, senior shortstop Koko Wooley, got things going in the rst inning for the Maroon and White. In total, she connected on three hits, recorded a run and an RBI. Graduate designated player Mac Barbara, a 2025 preseason top 100, now fully out of her brief slump, made huge contributions at bat, scoring a run with two RBIs. Junior second baseman Amari Harper made the most of her two times at bat, connecting on two hits, scoring a pair of runs with two RBIs to keep the Aggies in control of the game.
A&M players to watch against LMU
Junior third baseman Kennedy Powell has already paid dividends for the Maroon and White. Earlier this season, the Conroe native
to see some of those guys ltering back into town.We had a bunch of them out at practice on Saturday.”
For the players who didn’t get invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, like senior defensive back BJ Mayes, the event will showcase their athleticism, which is often the tiebreaker for teams between similarly-graded prospects on Day 3 of the draft.
The Aggies are expected to be o cially measured, participate in athletic testing — including running the 40-yard dash — and take part in position-speci c eld drills in front of the NFL contingent.
After junior defensive end
Shemar Stewart stole the headlines and the hearts of talent evaluators with a jaw-dropping performance at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, it is unlikely that the Miami native will take part in physical testing.
At the February Combine in Indianapolis, Stewart left the Lucas Oil Stadium turf scorched in his wake as he blazed to a
4.59-second 40-yard dash at 267 pounds. Lunacy. He also nearly scraped his head on the retractable roof with a 40-inch vertical leap.
The nal and often missing piece to Stewart’s puzzle, to the consternation of the 12th Man and draftniks alike, has been raw pass-rush production. Despite near-mythological physical gifts, the defensive end only recorded 1.5 sacks in his nal season under the Kyle Field lights.
Teams will put the defender through a barrage of pass-rush drills at the Pro Day to test their technical re nement, hand placement and bend. Also crucial for Stewart is the opportunity to speak with the teams interested in him. For someone who has been hailed as a developmental prospect, coaches would love to be able to see how malleable and receptive to coaching he is in the controlled environment.
As reported in January by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Stewart’s namesake, senior defensive tackle Shemar Turner, will participate
after being sidelined from the Combine and the Reese’s Senior Bowl due to a stress fracture in his leg that he played through during the 2024 season.
Turner is not nearly the adonis that Stewart is from a this-guywas-put-on-this-Earth-to-playfootball perspective, but he has a better understanding of leverage and the nuances of rushing the passer and plays with a red-hot motor.
“There’s nobody on our football team that loves football more than Shemar Turner,” former coach Jimbo Fisher said in 2023. “He loves to play, he loves to practice, he loves to work out, he loves to run, he loves everything associated with football, and that doesn’t always happen.”
Junior edge rusher Nic Scourton will fully participate in drills and testing after electing to only do measurements and interviews in Indy.
Scourton’s 40-yard dash and agility drills are important for him to demonstrate the uidity
he showed at Purdue before he transferred.
At the Combine, Scourton measured in at 257 pounds, a far cry from his listed weight at 285 pounds at A&M. The Bryan native appears to have dropped to the weight he played at when he recorded 12 sacks in two years for the Boilermakers, making his explosiveness numbers key for determining where he aligns in the NFL.
Despite the pass rushers being the only consensus draftable players, Mayes has booked a 30 visit with the Indianapolis Colts. Considered to have a priority free agent grade from NFL teams, Mayes could work his way into the later rounds of the draft if he gets over the necessary athletic thresholds on Thursday.
Despite the 40-yard dashes taking no more than ve seconds, the Pro Day is the culmination of years of hard work and the nal test to determine which players will take the next step in their football careers.
recorded a hit in 11 consecutive games. In her last three games, she has recorded ve hits and ve runs in total.
Barbara is always a player to look out for, as she was on the 2025 USA Softball Top 53 Player of the Year Watch List and has recorded multiple hits in four of her last six games. She has also recorded three runs and ve RBIs in her last four games while proving to be the primary source of power for the Aggies.
Sophomore rst baseman Mya Perez has been on a tear in her last few games and is coming o a career game with two runs scored o of two hits and six RBIs. She has proved this season that she consistently brings runners in to score, as she has had 12 games this season with multiple RBIs. Last but de nitely not least, watch out for 2025 Preseason First Team All-American senior lefthanded pitcher Emiley Kennedy. She has been holding it down on defense with 24 strike-outs in her last four games and has had at least one strikeout in all but one game this season.
LMU players to watch against A&M
Sophomore utility Justine Lambert has consistently had her name in the hitting column for LMU. She has recorded at least one hit in seven of her last eight games including a four-hit and three-run performance against Northern Colorado.
Senior catcher Arianna Jaurequi is one to look out for because
of her consistency at bat and ability to make plays. In her last ve games, the Moreno Valley, California native has recorded multiple hits three times including a three-hit, three-run and veRBI performance against the Bears. LMU will look to her to make some plays at bat against the Aggies.
Harvell is another key contributor that is poised to make an impact. Her ability to make contact with the ball has paid dividends for LMU as she has recorded multiple hits in four of the last six games, going undefeated during that stretch.
The Aggies are 15-4 at home and will be looking to extend their two-game winning streak against LMU. Their hitting repower and elding prowess are factors that will surely favor the Maroon and White in this game.
In its last game against Sacramento State, Loyola Marymount clutched a seventhinning comeback by scoring four runs to steal the victory, 5-4. Lambert contributed big with two hits and a run. Sophomore in elder Sakora Harvell made the comeback possible, ring a double to left eld to bring in three baserunners and capture the lead over Sacramento State.
In the fourth matchup between the two sides and in its rst trip to Davis Diamond, LMU is looking to capture its seventh-consecutive win against a red-hot A&M.
The Lions are 0-6 against ranked opponents, so it’ll be di cult to nd a way to take down the No. 6 Aggies.
GALLERY: NCAA Tournament
The goliaths of March Madness
How the SEC and Big Ten fared in the Big Dance’s chalky first weekend
By Justin Chen Senior Sports Writer
After impressive performances in the regular season by the Southeastern Conference and the Big Ten, both combined to tally 13 teams in the nal AP Top 25 Poll — including a resounding four appearances in the top 10 by the SEC.
Fast forward to the bid for the Big Dance, and the SEC broke the record for the most teams from the league to make it in, with 14 of 16 teams qualifying. It also occupied several top seeds, as Auburn and Florida locked up the No. 1 spot in its respective regions while Tennessee and Alabama landed second.
The Big Ten also shoveled in eight teams of its own, and after a strenuous rst two rounds that left no perfect bracket remaining, half of the conference remains. However, the SEC remains rumbling as it set another NCAA record with seven teams unscathed into the Sweet 16 with perhaps the biggest surprise school surviving — 10-seed Arkansas.
Just a month ago, the Razorbacks were in a rough spot, on the verge of losing out on a tournament bid with a loss to Texas A&M that hit coach John Calipari with a much-needed reality check.
“I wanted to make sure [the players] weren’t happy,” Calipari said. “‘We’re going to be OK.’ No, if we won [against A&M or Alabama], we’re in the tournament. So it’s not OK to say we’ll be alright. I didn’t want to put that on them because I got some guys that are a little bit fragile.”
In the present, his players have answered the call: rst, beating out rival Kansas and its 7-foot2 giant graduate center Hunter Dickinson, then upsetting Calipari’s longtime coaching rival, coach Rick Pitino and his 2-seed Saint John’s Red Storm.
Besides Arkansas’s Cinderella dance, the usual top dogs made their way through the rst round relatively easily, shooting down the idea of a true underdog run. The Big Ten even set its own record, going an undefeated 8-0. However, it’s been a di erent story in the Round of 32.
Surviving teams from both conferences have found themselves in tightly contested ball games.
Florida hung on to defeat the back-to-back NCAA Tournament champs UConn to set itself up against Maryland, who scored the tournament’s rst buzzer-beater o a tightlycontested oater from freshman C Derik Queen. Michigan dug deep to come back late in the second half against a tough SEC opponent in A&M, and now has a chance to upset one of the favorites out of the conference, Auburn. The Wolverines also have a chance to match up with in-state rival Michigan State if the Spartans handle their SEC opponent Ole Miss.
With elite matchups in store, both conferences also boast top players. Though his shooting has been wayward, Auburn senior C Johni Broome has hauled down every board in sight, and the battle down low against Michigan graduate C Vladislav Goldin will dictate which school comes out on top.
Queen has a chance to continue his terri c campaign against a stacked Florida team led by senior G Walter Clayton Jr, who’s crossed the 20-point mark in both tournament games. Then there’s the Midwest, where Houston and Purdue face o and right with them are SEC titans Kentucky and Tennessee.
While some have complained that the start of March Madness has been lackluster with the absence of upsets and showings of blowouts as top seeds have handled business, it’s just set up premier games. The best will face o from here on out, and we’ve already got a taste of that in the second round.
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